Drop-target.



J. KRGEK.

DROP TARGET.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. 1908.

v Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

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I. KRGEK.

DROP TARGET.

I 9 8 0' v APPLIOATION rum) nu 25.1w. Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

Z SIIBETS-SHEET 2.

JOSEF KRCEK, OF PRAGUE, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

DROP-TARGET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 25, 1908.

Patented April 13, 1909. Serial No. 434,831.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, Josnr Knock, subject I of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing l at Prague, in the Empire of Austria-Hungal-y, major of infantry in the Austrian army, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating 'to Drop-Targets, for which application has been made in l Great Britain, No. 2,420, dated February 3, i908, and in Austria November 8, 1907.

The following patents have been filed in I 1908, viz: in France, February 3; in giuni, February 3; in Italy, January 23; in l Switzerland, February 3; in Russia, February 3; in Eournania, February 3; in Japan, I February 29; in Germany, April 25; in Hungary, April 28, and in Spain, April 28.

his invention relates to improvements in or relating to drop targets which a hollow portion of the target is filled with fluid or air so that on a bullet penetrating the target the latter is automatic-l of the kind in ally released.

According to the present invention the charge, which is not utilized for the-attach- I ment of the target but only for the releasing of the same, in the hollow portion of the target does not entirely escape from the target on being penetrated by a bullet as hitherto but only to a very slight extent as the visl cous mass employed itself plugs the hole on I a slight escape taking place.

The invention will be better understood if reference be made to the accompanying drawings, in which the hydraulic drop target shown comprises a hollow wood figure, which shortly before use is filled at the range with a thick fluid (clay or loam paste).

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the front wall of the target. F 2 a. front elevation of the rear wall. Fig. 3 a front elevation of the indiarubber plate (Z forming the diaphragin provided with the iron pieces for securing the plate in the aperture of the rear wall B. Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the band for securing the target to the l post. Fig. 5 is a side view of the steel spring for releasing the target. Figs. 6, 10 and 12 are side views of several forms of targets with the mechanism as a whole. Fig. 7 a cross section of the target showing the manner in which the target is secured to the post. I Fig. 8 is a cross section of the target showing 5 the arrangement of the diaphragm. Fig. 9 l a side view of the post and Fig. 11 a side l Belb view of the wooden stopper for closing the hollow space of the target.

The hollow drop target consists of two similar shaped wooden walls, a front one A (Fig. 1) and a rear one B (Fig. 2), an indiarubber vibrating plate (2 (Fig. 3) being fixed on the latter in an aperture 6, and placed over this plate a steel spring f 9 (Fig. 5), also a lock pin '5 (Fig. 6) driven in and an iron fixing band (Fig. 4) screwed on; also of a post Z (Fig. 9) with a hook m, a steel and spring a and a support piece or holder 0 driven into the post; and finally, a wooden stopper 1) (Fig. 11).

Wood bars a fitting close to one another are nailed along the edge on the rear side of the front wall A, and any joints between the pieces of the bars or between the bars and the wall are smeared with cement.

Only at the head of the figure for a length of from 6 to 8 n'iillinieters are there no bars fastened, whereby a hole is formed in the figure through which the fluid (clay solution) is poured, whereupon the filling aperture is closed with the stopper r).

In the rear wall B an aperture 6 is sawed out and all around this aperture a fold or flange 0 shaped out, which is about 2 millimeters deeper and 1 centimeter broader on the outer side. This aperture is arranged not quite half way up the figure and lies somewhat to the right of the center line of the figure, because the post has to come in the center line.

Over the entire aperture 1) including the flange, an elastic inc iarubber plate (2 is then placed (Figs. 3 and 8) and is held, by means of four pieces of iron 0 (Fig. 3), which are perforated, on the flange 0 formed around the opening, by means of small nails. The steel wire spring f is then laid over the aperture covered by the indiarubber plate (as shown in Fig. 6) and the shorter arm 9 of the spring attached to the wall of the target.

The spring consists of a steel wire of about 2 millimeters in thickness, the shorter arm of which is wound at the end into a spring eyelet or lug 8. Approximately in the middle of the longer arm, a small sheet metal disk It is soldered, of similar form to the opening I) in the target wall, in such a way that the disk presses firmly on the indiarubber plate (Z when the spring is set, if the longer arm. of the spring be placed beneath the lock pin 2', in which position the sheet (Figs. 7

metal disk 72 soldered to the steel wire spring, must cover the aperture b and press on the indiarubber plate.

An iron fixing band j (formed in the manner shown in Fig. 4) is then also fastened on the Wall B in the center line of the figure somewhat above the aperture. A hole I; which serves for receiving a hooked beak m is located in the approximately horizontal heel of the fixing band, whereby the attachment of the figure to the post Z is effected.

As soon as the target walls A and B. have been adjusted in the manner described, they are coated on the inner side with tar, in order that the inner wood walls may not absorb water from the clay solution, and in this way the charge of the figure is prevented from drying up for as long a time as possible.

As soon as the tar coating has dried, the wall B, with the fixing band and the steel wire spring turned outward, is suitably placed on the wall A and then both are attached firmly together by means of nails at the edge through the bars a, so that a hollow figure is formed. A hook m is so driven in at the upper part of the post (Fig. 9) that its beak may be inserted in the hole 7c of the fixing band j, while between the post and the fixing band a small space must be left free for the springing up of the s ring lever arm 7". A suificiently strong stee band spring a and 9.) attached to the post is interposed between the post and the figure.

Beneath the steel band spring a, asupport piece or holder 0 is firmly driven into the post Z, so as to project somewhat therefrom, on which support piece or holder the figure is erected leaning against the post, after which the beak of the hook m is engaged in the hole k of the fixing band. By this means the steel band spring presses the figure away from the post, thus insuring the fixing of the figure.

The stopper o, shown in Fig. 11, consists of a wedgesshaped flattened piece or bar, which is inserted in an aperture left free at the head of the figure, and in such a, way that after the filling of the figure a tight sealing of the clay solution is produced.

Fig. 12 is the kind of target intended to represent the figure of a man in a prone position; Fig. 6., in the semi prone or kneeling position; and Fig. 10,. in the upright or running position. These automatic drop figures may either be attached to posts driven into the ground, as fixed targets or may be arranged as movable or disappearing figures on carriages or on revoluble shafts. 'l he filling fluid must be so thick that it cannot easily run out between eventual crevices between the bars or through cracks, but can still be easily poured through a wide funnel into. the small opening in the figure. If a solution made from'a good greasy loam or clay and water be selected for filling, any crevices in the figure become stopped up of themselves and also, after the fall of the figure, which has been hit, the clay solution does not run out of the bullet holes, as the Wood, immediately contracts and the wood fibers in the bullet holes prevent the further escape of the fiuid, as the clay rapidly hardensin them. After the shooting, when counting up'the figures hit, the holes caused by the bullets may small plugs kept ready for the purpose;

Should it happen that a figure 1s insufiiciently filled, it will still work properly, even if the bullet should chance to strike the empty part of the figure, because the air in the empty but tightly closed part can not so rapidly escape the bullet, whereby a momentary violent air pressure on all the inner surfaces results, and thus also onthe surface of the fiuid. "i'his air pressure on the fluid from above fully sufiices to press the india-- rubber plate taut outward, and thereby to press. away the sheet metal disk with the longer lever arm of the steel wire spring from the lock pin 7L (Fig.6) i. c. to cause the falling or dropping device to come into action.

I declare tnat what I claim is:

In a drop target device, a hollow target, a diaphragm mounted on target, a semi fluid mass inside said target and in contact with said diaphragm, said mass consisting of a material capable of sealing up the holes in the target made by the projectiles, and means operated from the diaphragm for releasing said target.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 8th day of May 1908, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEF KRCEK.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR SonwnINBUnY, ADoLrn Fisorinn.

be plugged by means of the rear side of said' 

